Bumpers

Replacement bumpers and bumper parts reshape the front or rear of a car and often change its airflow. The range holds a front bumper with an integrated grille and mesh, rear bumper caps, and a smooth rear bumper without the moulding strip.

A front bumper decides how much air reaches the radiator, intercooler and brakes, and how much goes under the car. Larger openings feed the coolers, and a fuller lower edge limits underbody flow. The bumper skin carries little of the crash load: the beam and energy absorbers behind it take most of it, so they must stay in place.

The materials behave differently. Polypropylene (PP), the usual factory bumper plastic, flexes and survives small knocks but needs an adhesion promoter before paint. Polyester laminate holds its shape and is simple to repair, yet it cracks rather than bends, while ABS caps are rigid and take paint readily once primed.

Before ordering, check two things:

• Model and facelift: car-specific parts name the model and years in the title, and pre-facelift and facelift bumpers differ.
• Parts to transfer: fog lights, washer jets, the number plate mount, parking sensors and the towing eye cover may need to move across.

Trial-fit the bumper before painting, as aftermarket mounts may need adjusting, and check the panel gaps all round. Never leave out the crash beam to save weight on a road car.